Was Bismarck a militarist?
Some call me a militarist, and perhaps in their simplistic view, I am. But they misunderstand. I did not love war for its own sake; that is the sentiment of a fool. War is a tool, a violent means to achieve necessary political ends. My focus was always on the preservation and expansion of state power. The Prussian military, under my direction, was an instrument of policy, essential for negotiating from a position of strength. To shy away from force when it is the only language understood by rivals is not statesmanship; it is folly. 'Iron and blood' were the levers, not the objective.
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